Pews

Waking up on time, taking an early bath and a scrumptious breakfast almost became a habit. By now, it was already feeling like we were here much longer than just three days.

We decided to walk along the French quarters, soaking in the architecture, the breeze, the tidy streets and the little glimpses of life we could see. All we had was an excellent map to follow and a mind free of plans or constraints. We began with the Churches. Each one was a different experience. And I could write pages about it. In fact, I am struggling to balance between brevity and detail, not being faithful to either. There are too many observations to elucidate! I shall pen them down by this weekend.

A random, unplanned walk along any direction the heart chooses - just the way great travel is. Each street seemed to be right out of a story.

This was followed by an even better evening. we found our way to Café dés Arts, a small art gallery, combined with a coffee shop lined with some books on the shelves. It was that time in the evening after the sun is down, and twilight has just disappeared. The sky is it's bluest and the yellow indoor lights are gradually turning on. Evening was welcomed with gentle music, wonderful coffee, perhaps the yummiest croissant I've ever had and a book filled with paintings from the Impressionist era. Hard to imagine a better way to wrap up the most wonderful day. We also got talking to the French family who owned the place, welcoming us to their patio.

Well, it was our last night in Pondicherry, so it was a time to visit a local pub too. Tucked away in a corner, it was a bit like a tree-house, the inside of which looked like Big ears' toadstool house. It was informal, buzzing with excitement and so full of atmosphere. The day ended as we walked round those streets yet again. The mind was still, and yet there was a hint of sadness at the thought of leaving.